From The Age
Reported by Brent Diamond
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THE VFL draw will be much more AFL-friendly next season, with fewer byes for clubs reducing complications for AFL clubs.
Carlton was one of a number of AFL clubs that complained to AFL Victoria about fixturing problems in the state league last season.
Clubs were forced to bring players back into AFL ranks after injury without time in the VFL.
It also meant that suspended players David Wojcinski from Geelong and Lachie Hansen from North Melbourne faced extended time on the sidelines because of byes running in between serving time.
This season, however, the decision to have a stand-alone Essendon club in the competition - parting ways with Bendigo after a decade - is a blessing for the state league as it will return to an even number of teams, reducing the number of byes.
